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May 15, 2017 Moon Duo By Stephen Mayne

Over the course of three (and a half with the inclusion of Occult Architecture Vol. 1) previous albums, Moon Duo have found a fascinating middle-ground between out-there experimentation and tightly constricted music.

Guitarist Ripley Johnson and keyboardist Sanae Yamada build and build, carefully adding sounds until the music starts to swallow everything nearby. Vocals appear occasionally, but largely as an afterthought, buzzing guitars and Yamada’s insistent keyboard work taking centerstage.

There’s an ethereal, otherworldly feel to this second in a two part record that aims to move through the seasons and into the light. Rebirth is on the mind, signified from the start in an opening track titled “New Dawn.”

The Pacific Northwest helped inspire the record, as did a list of influences that range from the Chinese theory of Yin to gnostic literature. Away from the occult references, there’s a space-age sound when the synth kicks in.

Perhaps the best compliment that can be paid to Vol. 2 is that it works alongside its predecessor and still stands alone as an exciting and genuinely captivating cycle of music. (www.moonduo.org)

Author rating: 7/10